BASEBALL

Baseball Receives Fifth-Straight Loss; #24 FMU Slams Way to 6-2 Win

FLORENCE, S.C. – A walk-off grand slam by Preston Shuey capped off a six RBI day as #24 Francis Marion took a 6-2 victory over Pfeiffer University in baseball action on Wednesday afternoon. The Patriots improve to 8-3 on the season while the Falcons drop their fifth-straight moving to 5-9.

The bottom of the ninth started with a Michael Wilson walk, followed by a pair of bunts by Brock McAllister and Buddy Sosnoskie. McAllister reached on his bunt via Falcon fielding error and Sosnoskie beat out his bunt for a base hit. With a 1-0 count, Shuey belted the game-winner to left for the walk-off.

The Falcons carried a 2-0 lead at the halfway point on Wednesday as Eric Shoemaker started the scoring in the fourth with a solo shot to right for his fourth of the year. Jacob Yates picked up a RBI-single an inning later as Tyler Smith led off the frame with a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and plated on Yates’ base hit.

Francis Marion got on the board in the fifth as Shuey doubled home Sosnoskie on a two-bagger to right-center. Shuey’s second RBI of the day came on a sacrifice fly to tie things up in the seventh. The Patriots career RBI total fell on Wednesday after Shuey collected a half-dozen RBI.

Preston Lyon and Hunter Boehme each collected a pair of hits for the Falcons. Austin Campbell received a no-decision after tossing eight innings allowing a pair of runs with three strikeouts.

Pfeiffer will open up 2011 Conference Carolinas play on Saturday and Sunday traveling up to Barton. Saturday’s doubleheader begins at noon while Sunday’s series finale starts at 1:00 p.m.